REVIEW: WoW Cataclysm MMO Gaming Mouse (SteelSeries)

With the perfect game expansion comes the perfect mouse: The WoW Cataclysm MMO Gaming Mouse, a mouse specifically designed for you hardcore WoW-aholics who can't just get by with the standard keyboard-and-mouse duo. Designed in conjunction by SteelSeries and Blizzard Entertainment, its main benefits aren't just in its sleek, Deathwing-inspired design--it's also designed to help you instantaneously do magic and attack commands by clicking any of its 14 customizable buttons. For $99.99, it's definitely not a cheap buy--comparatively, it's even more expensive than the Razer Naga Gaming Mouse, one of the leading gaming mouses for MMOers--but it's definitely not your typical run-of-the-mill gaming mouse.

Pros

Buttons are easier to click compared to the Razer Naga

Looks cool: Interface glows and looks like the scales of Deathwing

Both PC and Mac compatible

Cons

It's a big mouse--not made for small or average-sized hands

Many people complain it's too bulky and heavy to use

Doesn't contain as many buttons as the Razer Naga

DesignLooks-wise, this mouse blows everything else out of the water. From its scaled cover--just like the scales of Deathwing--to its cool, glowing backlight, the WoW Cataclysm MMO Gaming Mouse is a designer's masterpiece, and looks itself to be as sturdy as it is pretty. For added pizazz, SteelSeries also allows you to change the color of the light to any of your choosing, though most testers were partial to its default "Cataclysm orange" setting. The scalloped edges also make it easier to grip the mouse, along with its rubber-coated sides.

FunctionFunctionally-speaking, the WoW Cataclysm MMO Gaming Mouse could do better. Although it's a better investment from a clickability standpoint--the buttons are easier to click and feel when compared to the Razer Naga--the mouse itself is hard to move and control, just due to its sheer size. Measuring at 5 1/3 inches long and 4 1/2 inches wide, this is certainly no ordinary mouse, and those with smaller hands will find the mouse a challenge to even grip comfortably.

It would be great if this mouse was offered in different sizes--suppose those made for small and big hands--but thus far this hasn't been offered as an option. Alas, you small-handed gamers may have to downgrade to the Razer Naga if this mouse is simply too big for you (I know I will).

CustomizationThough this mouse boasts plenty of customization (buttons are easily customizable to your tastes, says SteelSeries), in reality it's very hard to customize. Should you want to assign a mouse button to a different command, you need to scroll through a long list of action commands, select the desired action command, and accept the change to permanently change it; a very long and tedious process. In comparison, other gaming mice allow you to change commands by simply selecting the corresponding command on the keyboard, such as selecting "P", which in World of Warcraft executes the open spellbook command.

"The Steelseries UI won't let you just re-assign a mouse button to a letter, or a number," says an Amazon.com customer. "If you're using this for anything other than Warcraft, or maybe you don't know that there's a letter bind for checking your PVP currency, the process can get really annoying."

Overall, this tends to be the mouse's biggest weakness.

Customer ResponseOverall, most customers aren't fans of this gaming mouse. As to its most cited issues, most of them complain that it's simply too big to use; others say that it's simply not as great as the Razer Naga.

"Tried using this mouse for a month but tossed it in the end," says one customer. "It's just WAY WAY too big of a mouse."

However, another customer says, "The 5 thumb buttons are good size and easy to distinguish from one another. I actually use all 5 and I'm not mis-clicking like I was with the Naga."

VerdictAlthough I was pleased with its sleek, easy-to-grip design and customizable interface, the WoW Cataclysm MMO Gaming Mouse had too many problems to make me commit to a purchase. Customizing the interface itself presented a challenge to many gamers; being able to use the mouse also presented problems for gamers with small or medium-sized hands. It may have easier-to-reach buttons compared to the Razer Naga, but overall, its high price tag ($99.99) and poor usability just didn't bode well with me. I'll stick with the Razer Naga instead for my gaming needs.

Reviewer has: Never TestedReviewer has never tested this product, all content in this review is purely based on speculation and should be treated as entertainment only.

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